George Eastman’s first camera, which he called the “ Kodak,” was first offered for sale in 1888. In March 1900, the Union Democrat newspaper wrote: “an association, composed of ladies and gentlemen was formed this week under the name “Camera Club”. Tuolumne Independent also took notice: The club is formed merely for social purposes and quite a membership is expected and it is well underway. It is noticed that “camera fiends” are not
very numerous in this city, but there is still plenty of time, and amateur photography is among the most
fascinating and instructive of diversions.’ The Democratic Banner later noted that “on the lot between the jail & the residence of E. J. Landers is being erected a 5 room cottage. It is said the building will be the home of the Sonora Amateur Camera Club”.
Club members met regularly to share their photographs and exhibited them at the Tuolumne County Fair. Phoenix Lake was a popular trip for the group as was the 3 day trip to The Big Trees in Calaveras County. That trip got a full column in the July 1900 Union Democrat.
The group reported:
At the hotel we are cordially received by Mr. Mitchler, and a few brief moments later we are off again on our way to the great Mercer Cave, a mile and a half from Murphys. Arriving there we swelter in the heat for twenty minutes, and then we are supplied with candles, and a guide leads us down, down, deep into the bowels of the earth. A chorus of feminine voices ring out amid a shower of candle grease and Ed Rehm saved the day and preserved good feeling by ordering lights out while he took a flash-light picture. Dr. Bromley declared that the whole party laughed when the flash went off and that a smiling group would be the result of the camera’s revelation
in Inch’s minutes of April 9 state that Rehm experimented with his “Flash Pistol” with such apparent success that “with this new flash apparatus it was possible to photograph sound .. . His camera also makes a good substitute for an x-ray.
This group was short lived, but they have given us innumerable pictures of life in the Motherlode in 1900.
